Trace Evidence - Forensic Sciences 

So What Really Happened?

Trace Evidence

Introduction

Suppose there was a neighborhood crime, endless questions and curiosity would most likely arise from everyone who had heard about it. For example, what happened? How did the suspect escape? How was the victim affected? Can we solve this case? To answer that, yes. We can solve this case with the help of trace evidence! In this article, you’ll come to know what trace evidence is, what it’s used for, what technology is used to determine it and what challenges it brings.

Body

What is it? 

Essentially, trace evidence is the material left behind in a crime scene, and it is usually not immediately visible to the naked eye. There is unlimited evidence that is considered as trace evidence; however, the most common types of evidence are hair/fur, textile fibers, fabric, glass, and paint.

What is it used for? 

Trace evidence is used to recreate an event/crime, as well as determine what had happened and who/what was present. When all the evidence is gathered and ordered, typically, a story is generated about what took place. This helps investigators figure out who the suspects are.

What technology is used to find trace evidence?

The most commonly used tools are the scanning electron and optical microscopes. These instruments are used to determine evidence such as textile, glass, fabrics, and metals. To collect evidence, specialized vacuums, swabs, lights such as lasers, tweezers and tape are used.

What are some challenges faced when finding and collecting trace evidence? 

Although trace evidence is very useful and is a crucial part in investigating crime scenes, it comes with some challenges. Those include not being able to properly pin-point who the evidence belongs to. For example, a strand of hair. You cannot clearly identify who that strand of hair belongs to without undergoing DNA testing. Another is tampering with the evidence. While collecting the evidence, it is very important to carefully transfer it without direct contact and it must not be damaged during the transfer.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learnt about what trace evidence is, what it’s used for, what is used to find and collect it, as well as the challenges it brings, how do you feel? Do you think trace evidence is truly useful or do you believe that there are more efficient methods that can be used investigate a crime scene?

Summary

Trace evidence is the evidence left after a crime scene. Hair, glass, and more can be considered as trace evidence. It’s used to recreate an event and technology such as an optical microscope is used to determine the evidence. Tweezers, tape and swabs are used to collect the evidence. It is difficult to figure out who the evidence belongs to, and it is hard to not damage it.

References (APA7)

Evidence Collection Policy - 2524 Words | Bartleby. (n.d.). Bartleby. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Evidence-Collection-Policy-F3BKCS8386TA

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2017, April 17). Trace Evidence. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.fbi.gov/services/laboratory/scientific-analysis/trace-evidence#:%7E:text=These%20trace%20materials%20include%20human,the%20transfer%20of%20trace%20materials.

Jobbins, M. (2021, January 6). Trace Evidence. Nanoscience Instruments. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.nanoscience.com/applications/forensics/trace-evidence/#:%7E:text=The%20instruments%20commonly%20used%20in,%2C%20metals%2C%20textile%20or%20glass.

New Jersey State Police. (n.d.). Trace Evidence Analysis | New Jersey State Police. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.njsp.org/division/investigations/trace-evidence.shtml

Trace Evidence: Introduction. (n.d.). Trace Evidence: Introduction. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/trace/#:%7E:text=This%20evidence%20can%20be%20used,helps%20to%20tell%20the%20story.